Residents against a proposed RV Park look over a site plan for the park during an on-site hearing at 7535 Vonnahmen Road, Bethalto. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny the permit after approximately 50 people came out in opposition to the proposal.

Residents against a proposed RV Park look over a site plan for the park during an on-site hearing at 7535 Vonnahmen Road, Bethalto. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny the permit after

Residents against a proposed RV Park look over a site plan for the park during an on-site hearing at 7535 Vonnahmen Road, Bethalto. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny the permit after approximately 50 people came out in opposition to the proposal.

Residents against a proposed RV Park look over a site plan for the park during an on-site hearing at 7535 Vonnahmen Road, Bethalto. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny the permit after

EDWARDSVILLE — A request for a special use permit to allow an RV park on Vonnahmen Road, Bethalto was unanimously denied by the Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals after about 50 people came out against it at a site hearing Tuesday.

Owner Raymond Blackburn and applicant Richard Derek Ford, who had planned to purchase the property at 7535 Vonnahmen Road, had requested a special use permit in an agriculturally-zoned area in Foster Township.

According to site plans the park would have been constructed in at least two phases and had approximately 80 slots. At the site hearing Ford said part of the plan was that it would house temporary workers for major projects at the Wood River Refinery.

A petition with more than 60 signatures against the request was submitted at the hearing, and approximately 50 people opposed to the project attended.

The group had a number of issues, ranging from inadequate roads, sewers and water to the nature of the development.

At the hearing several people voiced their opinions against the plan. Mark Loftus, who owns property adjoining the proposed development, represented most of the residents.

“As homeowners, it’s a beautiful area,” he said. “It’s a beautiful tract of land and we feel like he’s going to ruin it with his proposal. It goes from property line to property line. He calls it an RV park, but it’s an RV parking lot.”

Several people objected to plans for temporary worker housing and lack of specific security plans.

“I go camping. This is not camping, this is a transient mobile home park,” said neighbor Michelle Ruppert.

Ford said he would be living on the site, which would include an office/residence.

After several other hearings the ZBA came back to the Planning & Development Department office to vote on the requests.

ZBA members cited a number of issues, including several safety concerns, before unanimously voting to deny the permit.

It must now go to the Planning & Development Committee before a final vote by the Madison County Board.

• Patrocino Hernandez, owner of property at 3330 VFW Lane, Collinsville, had requested a special use permit to allow keeping five chickens, two goats and a horse on the property, and variances on setbacks for a chicken run and barn for the horse.

• Definitive Homes and Design Inc., on behalf of Greenscape Properties LLC, had requested a zoning map amendment to rezone 52.48 acres at 1941 Orr Lane, Collinsville, to R-1 from Agricultural to allow a 38-lot subdivision. Also approved were variances to allow two smaller lots, and setbacks on some of the lots because of a gas line easement.